Finance minister Enoch Godongwana, who is embroiled in sexual assault allegations, says he will step aside if charged with any crime.
“Should the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] go ahead, the ANC policy is ‘I must step aside’. Simple. I am a member,” Godongwana told Business Day on the sidelines of an engineering conference on Thursday.
The sexual harassment complaint against Godongwana by an employee at Kruger National Park has the potential to unsettle the minister’s department less than two months before the medium-term budget policy statement.
Statement
It also comes three months before the ANC internal elections contest in December.
The faction aligned to President Cyril Ramaphosa — which is said to include Godongwana — is expected to be up against an ANC faction that is behind so-called radical economic transformation.
Godongwana, who has denied any wrongdoing, was furnished with a statement from the police detailing allegations against him and he has been asked to give his version of events, spokesperson Mfuneko Toyana said.
When the allegations emerged, Godongwana said: “I have always upheld and respected the rights and dignity of women, and this allegation goes against everything I stand for.”
Docket
Police spokesperson Brig Selvy Mohlala said that investigations were under way and the docket containing the charges had been returned to police by the NPA.
“A decision on whether any charges will be laid will be based on the recommendation of the prosecutor. That recommendation will be made once the accused has provided their statement,” he said.
“The statement will be taken depending on the person’s availability. We will be giving him a fair and reasonable time.
“The investigating officer is in the process of making arrangements,” he said.
Godongwana said he appeared before the ANC’s integrity commission on Wednesday. “I told them the story that I know, arising out of what newspapers are saying. When they [the commission] make a decision, they don’t make the decision in your presence,” he said.
“The whole thing I was told by all of you in the media and by friends over the weekend and on Saturday. I don’t know,” he said.
George Mashamba, the head of the ANC’s integrity commission, said that party veterans were giving serious consideration to the allegations of sexual assault against Godongwana.
“We still have to deliberate on his submission and then we will finalise our recommendation,” Mashamba said.
He declined to say whether Godongwana’s explanation was convincing or to give any other details on the closed-door meeting. With TimesLIVE
Updated: August 18 2022
This story has been updated with comment from the SAPS and the ANC’s integrity committee
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.